Carrying a Torch Students continue credible quest to have named state

By Richard G. Biever

ow far would you chase a the Indiana Statehouse, but still no “And firefly? luck. Yet, Kayla and her classmates like golden seeds H In the cool of the evening insist the chase for the elusive state this time of year, when these little bio- insect will continue on with a new are sown luminescent emerge and begin fervor. They hope a firefly fever will about the night.” beckoning both their mates and us sweep the state and Hoosiers statewide ­— James Whitcomb Riley, with their tiny flashing greenish gold will support their efforts. They are pin- Hoosier Poet tail light-beacons, it’s easy to fall under ning their hopes on January’s General their magical swirling spell. Assembly to make sure Indiana daw- But would your pursuit go so far as dles no more in selecting a state insect. the one Kayla Xu, her teacher, class and To paraphrase an old proverb: It’s school in West Lafayette have been on? not so much the destination of seeing Kayla’s curiosity and quest to know the firefly made the state insect as why Indiana had no official “state much as it is the lessons these students insect” — and how it could capture one have learned. “The whole experience — soon took her entire second grade is a journey,” said Maggie Samudio, Background photo: Like swirling stars collected from the class at Cumberland Elementary cyber- Kayla’s second grade teacher. night sky, countless fireflies flicker tripping to nearby Purdue University. across a field near a treeline. Entomologists there passed the torch The journey begins Lightning bugs, as they are also they’d been carrying for the firefly to with a question or two called, are perhaps the most “people the kids. The chase to make the firefly Not far into the fall semester of 2014, pleasing” insect on earth: never a pest; always fascinating. The rural the official state insect — with Purdue Samudio’s class was learning about the summer childhood ritual of collecting entomologists along for support — was 50 states. Kayla had taken one of the them in Ball jars at nightfall connects now on. books about states home to read more generations together like no other Next, the pursuit wound its way about all of them. Two days later, she insect or . through history and from West came up to Samudio’s desk and told INSET ART: West Lafayette second Lafayette down the not-so-far-away her teacher, “We have a problem.” grader Yangchen Yan adorned the cover of her jar-shaped booklet of firefly banks of the Wabash (Indiana’s official Kayla noticed some states had state facts with these two fireflies. Yangchen “state song” and official “state river,” by musical instruments. “They had a state is a student in Maggie Samudio’s second the way) to New Harmony. this, and a state that,” Samudio said. grade class at Cumberland Elementary. Soon, state lawmakers joined in. Samudio’s students for the past two years They ran the firefly up the flagpole at Please turn to next page have been researching fireflies and lobbying the state Legislature to have the bioluminescent adopted as the state insect. Background Photo by Clint Spencer/iStock/Getty Images Plus

14 Electric consumer • June 2016 • ElectricConsumer.org ElectricConsumer.org • June 2016 • Electric consumer 15 Continued from Previous page like they just want to be your friend.” State Rep. Sheila Klinker holds up a And Vivi noted, “They can have an firefly finger puppet before the West “But she noticed the and said, When it comes to an insect, effect on anyone, any age.” Lafayette city council last month while ‘Indiana doesn’t have one. Why don’t speaking in support of students from She said people coming to Indiana draws a ‘blaaaaank’ we have one? How can we get one?’ the city’s Cumberland Elementary. The Indiana from where they don’t have council was considering a resolution And that’s how it all started.” Indiana has a state flower and tree, noted lightning bugs can be amazed seeing endorsing the students’ efforts to A firm believer in the “teachable West Lafayette third grader Kayla Xu. We even them for the first time. “It would be a have the Say Firefly adopted as the moment,” Samudio promised Kayla have a state pie and state gun. But when it like a sky of stars …” Indiana state insect and also making she’d do some checking. the firefly the official insect of West “… Golden seeds sown about the comes to a state insect, she says Indiana draws Indeed, 47 states have a des- Lafayette. Klinker, whose District night,” added Kayla, quoting Hoosier 27 includes Lafayette and portions a long “blaaaaaaank.” ignated state insect. Some have poet James Whitcomb Riley. of West Lafayette, cosponsored the Kayla pointed out Indiana is one of only more than one. Indiana, Iowa and Emma said that everyone in the students’ bill in the Indiana General Michigan are the entomophobes. three states (along with Iowa and Michigan) class was on board with the choice. Assembly in January. It failed to pass “We don’t want to be the 50th in out of the natural resources committee. that has no state insect. In fact, compared “I think we all really admired the fire- getting an insect,” added Kayla, who Undeterred, the students and their to other states, Indiana has few “official” fly when we found out about it,” she firefly supporters in the Statehouse now just finished third grade in late said. “Our teacher motivated us, and are mounting another attempt for the symbols — a state trait for much of its 200 May. “We’d stand out if we don’t so we got to writing the letters and 2017 General Assembly — and are years. For many years, for example, Indiana have a state insect. It would be like just trying to make a difference.” hoping to gain statewide support from was the only state without a flag. — blaaaaank.” schools, city governments and other Indiana does have a dozen official state Doing some quick Googling, Why a ‘state insect’? organizations and individuals. Looking on, from right, are Cumberland third Samudio learned that Tom Turpin emblems, as well as other designated official At the end of another spring semester graders Vivi Agnew, Kayla Xu and and unofficial items. The majority of the and other entomologists at Purdue last month, Tom Turpin reached into Emma Williams, and West Lafayette University had suggested Indiana a desk drawer in his “bug-infested” Mayor John R. Dennis. The council symbols are officially recognized and created adopt the firefly as the state insect office at Purdue and pulled out a tri- unanimously passed the resolution. Photos by Richard G. Biever by an act of the Indiana General Assembly and in the 1990s. More specifically, their fold brochure, slightly discolored, signed into law by the governor. These include: firefly of choice was from 20 years ago. “Support a state k Seal: A pioneer chopping a tree on the edge angulata, commonly called Say’s insect for Indiana,” the cover said, Proposed insect named for famed New Harmony naturalist of a clearing as a bison flees. It was the state’s Firefly. This particular firefly was “The firefly.” It was one the promo- first symbol, adopted in 1816 (originally it was named after the famed naturalist tional materials they used. Thomas Say is the namesake for the “Say’s Firefly” It’s been said he transformed the study of the symbol of the Indiana Territory in 1801). Thomas Say, who discovered the spe- “We were always looking for ways (Pyractomena angulata), the variety of firefly that American natural history from the pastime of k Song: “On the Banks of the Wabash, Far cies while researching insects near to keep entomology and insects in has been proposed as the Indiana state insect. “science oriented gentlemen, into a legitimate Away” by Paul Dresser. Adopted in 1913, it was his home in New Harmony in the the public view,” said Turpin, who Say is known as the “father of American scientific field.” His publications made European the state’s second symbol. 1820s (please see sidebar at right). writes a monthly column called “On entomology.” Born in Philadelphia in 1787, he scientists take note that the young United k Flag: The torch represents liberty and enlight- “If it was good enough for Purdue Six Legs” for Purdue’s Extension com- was a self-taught naturalist, and one of the first States had serious scientific research being done enment. The outer circle of 13 stars represents and Tom Turpin,” said Samudio in munications service and has come American-born naturalists to gain renown. At age by native-born Americans. the original 13 states. The stars in the lower going with the firefly, too, “it’s good up with such events as the Bug Bowl 25, he became a charter member of the Academy of The epitaph on Say’s grave in New Harmony semi circle stand for the five states admitted enough for anybody and everybody.” and the State Fair’s cockroach races. Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. captures his passion for the natural world: Portrait of Thomas Say, 1818, before Indiana. The star directly above the torch “I particularly thought the firefly “The idea here was that if you have by Charles Willson Peale In January 1826, Say arrived with William “Votary of nature even from a child, symbolizes Indiana. Adopted in 1917 after the was really good because I read this a state symbol, in this case a state Born: June 27, 1787, Maclure and other scientists and educators He sought her presence in the trackless wild; centennial design competition won by Paul book, and it says fireflies are one of insect, then this becomes something Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. from Philadelphia on the famous “Boatload of To him the shell, the insect and the flower Died: October 10, 1834 Were bright and cherished emblems Hadley of Mooresville. the most common insects,” added that multiplies by teachers using it in New Harmony, Indiana, Knowledge” that came down the Ohio River to New k Tree: Tulip tree, also called the yellow poplar, Kayla. “And in my mind, I say, ‘One of the classroom and by all those things age 47, of typhoid. Harmony, Indiana, hoping to establish a model of her power. In her he saw a spirit all divine, West Lafayette has a distinctive leaf shape and yellow, the most UN-gross insects.’” where state symbols play a role.” Gravesite: An obelisk community where education and social equality marks his grave in and worshipped like a pilgrim “And that’s so important — to Turpin and colleague Arwin would flourish. The group is credited with opening bell-shaped flowers. It is a tall tree and grows the side garden of at her shrine.” throughout Indiana. Adopted 1931. have an un-gross insect,” added Provonsha gave a lot of thought to a the “Rapp-Maclure the Midwest to the next generation of scholars. Mansion” in New Purdue University entomol- k Bird: Cardinal; adopted 1933. Samudio. “We said ‘no stinkbugs.’ variety of insects, including butter- Harmony. The marker is While the utopian community dissolved in ogist Tom Turpin noted that k Flower: Peony; adopted 1957. Right?” flies, at the time, but settled on the viewable to the general 1827 and many of the scientists returned East, Say public from the sidewalk naming Say’s Firefly — truly New Harmony k Motto: “The Crossroads of America.” “Right,” nodded Kayla and two firefly. “Everybody sees the firefly and around the garden, but stayed on in New Harmony. The unassuming Say a “bright and cherished” part k River: Wabash River; adopted 1996. other of Kayla’s classmates from the has positive feelings about it,” Turpin the mansion is privately diligently continued his descriptions of insects and owned. of Indiana’s natural world k Stone: Limestone. The Indiana variety has previous year, Emma Williams and said. “When we were thinking about mollusks, culminating in classic volumes of work. Fields of study: Natural — as the Indiana state insect would not just been used in buildings such as the Empire State Vivi Agnew. The three girls helped it originally, what would make a good history, entomology. In his lifetime, Say described well over 1,000 new recognize the insect but also honor Say, a Building and the Pentagon. Adopted 1971. carry the torch for the firefly. They state insect, none of us could up with Known as: “Father of species of beetles and over 400 other insects, descriptive entomology great figure in Indiana history. k Pie: Sugar Cream Pie; adopted 2009. rejoined Samudio in her classroom anything negative about the firefly. in the United States.” including species in every important insect order. k Rifle: Grouseland Rifle, one of the six during lunch break last month to talk “It’s not a pest on anything. It’s Accomplishments: One of the new beetles he discovered in Indiana A monument in a private garden Identified over 1,400 remaining rifles made by gunsmith John Small about the experiences from second not the kind of thing that would sting was Pyractomena angulata, now better known in New Harmony marks Thomas new species of Say’s accomplishments in in the early 1800s. Adopted 2012. grade and earlier this past school you. It’s not the kind of thing that insects, including the as Say’s Firefly. Many other species of wildlife, Pyractomena angulata life — and the place he k Aircraft: Republic Aviation P-47 Thunderbolt; year. would bite you.” He said. “It is one of firefly (“Say’s Firefly), and including coyote, birds and other beetles, have been is buried. The renowned adopted 2015. “They’re really fun,” added Vivi. seven species of snakes. named in honor of Say. naturalist died in 1834. “They don’t harm you at all. It seems Please turn to page 18

16 Electric consumer • June 2016 • ElectricConsumer.org ElectricConsumer.org • June 2016 • Electric consumer 17 Continued from Page 16 symbol, it’s here in Indiana, it was list included the arts and sciences fire- told the students in December: this is named by a well-known Indiana natu- flies inspire and the research based on really about lessons in democracy. the few insects that can bind the gen- ralist, who really was considered the their cool light — “the most efficient This was the first opportunity for This firefly erations together. Today, kids leave father of North American entomology light in the world.” government to respond to a large shines light their iPads and whatever and go out by many people.” For Indiana farmers, they noted group of spirited elementary kids to let and collect fireflies. Dad and Mom on safety! The firefly paper chase that Turpin refers to fireflies as the them know that their government is did it. Grandpa did it.” “Paul Revere” of the insect world. working for them, he said. In addition, the firefly seemingly Once Samudio’s class got chasing after While electric When farmers see fireflies flashing, “We’re trying to teach these chil- co-ops have offers lessons covering most all the the firefly, there was no going back. that means conditions are also right dren to be responsible citizens and disciplines of arts and sciences: the In February 2015, the class did for rootworm larvae to hatch and they to treasure our democracy and use it mascot Willie Wiredhand chemistry of its light, the flashing pat- a persuasive writing project, writing need to check the crops. properly. They’re learning how they promoting electrical safety and terns of the mating rituals, the poetry letters to top state elected officials in They noted the chemicals that can make changes,” said Samudio. energy efficiency as a “spokes plug,” and music it inspires and more. both Indianapolis and Washington, make fireflies glow are “They thought it was Photo by fergregory/iStock/Getty Images Plus the electric world as a whole has a special A bill supporting the firefly passed D.C., asking for guidance and support being used in medical amazing that they can go the Indiana House, but, for some for their state insect idea. “spokes BUG” — Louie the Lightning Bug Harnessing the power research for cancer and speak to the people that — who’s willing and able to teach safety and reason, Turpin said, the president pro State Sen. Ron Alting, who repre- multiple sclerosis. represent them in our gov- of the lightning bug tem of the Senate at the time “torpe- sents much of Tippecanoe County, And for the budget- ernment,” she said of the efficiency to doed” it. The attempt sank. They were was the first to respond. While the Win a Louie the Lightning Bug plush toy! minded Hoosiers, they trip to the Statehouse. Turn to page 27 for details! consumers Someday, consumers may be using lights going to try again, but decided not to deadline had passed to introduce noted — in bold red ink — “They know now if you of all ages and that won’t show up on the monthly “light com- bills for the 2015 session, Alting, a the state would benefit from have an idea, you can pos- of all electric utilities. Louie’s caretakers at pete with Republican, said he’d consider pro- bill” or electric bill. The lights, which could “the taxes” collected from sibly have it put into a bill. Moore Syndication have provided this bio: another posing a firefly bill for 2016. the anticipated increase But it has to go through a replace fluorescent and be much more k Name: Louie the Lightning Bug® group In the meantime, Turpin visited sales of firefly-themed process.” efficient than LED lamps, will glow using the from a Cumberland Elementary to teach the (Latinese: Ouielay ightninglay ugbay). science found in fireflies. merchandise. Kayla, Emma, Vivi and school second graders about fireflies. Also In the House, a com- Maggie Samudio the rest of the Cumberland k First sighted/identified: 1983; as the premier Scientists at Syracuse University have near about that time, State Rep. Sheila mittee hearing was sched- students haven’t given up on electrical safety “spokes bug.” made what they are calling a transforma- Lake Klinker, a Democrat whose district uled. An excited bus load of students their quest for the firefly. In fact, they k Home: Exclusively marketed by Moore tional advance in an alternate light source Michigan includes Lafayette and some of West ventured to Indianapolis in January now sound more determined, a little Syndication since 1989. Photo by Purdue U niversity Purdue by Photo that pro- Lafayette and Purdue, visited the class — combining the natural light produced by Tom Turpin to testify before the natural resources older (as soon-to-be fourth graders!) k Range: Presented by large and small electric posed and promised to draft a bill for the committee and present their research. and wiser. They said they realize they utilities in the U.S. and Canada, and Atlantic fireflies with nanotechnology. the Karner blue, a once common but- House. The students now had bipar- “Firefly light is one of nature’s best Unfortunately for the students, the need to expand their efforts statewide. and Caribbean Islands. (Louie really gets terfly found along the Indiana Dunes tisan support, and support in both insect issue was assigned to a House The lawmakers who supported around for a little bug!) examples of bioluminescence,” said Mathew that had become almost extinct in chambers of the Statehouse. summer study committee. The Senate them last session have pledged their k Commonly observed locations: TV commercials, Indiana. The Karner blue was also When this most recent school year Maye, Syracuse University assistant did not hear the bill at all. support again next year. Meanwhile, costumes, safety videos, vehicle graphics, Internet, ignored in the General Assembly. began in September of 2015, the stu- professor of chemistry. “The light is “We’ve gotten a little bit farther they picked up the support of the books, brochures, T-shirts, and specialty items. While others have introduced dents at Cumberland wrote more than extremely bright and efficient. We’ve found than we thought we would,” said West Lafayette city council. In a reso- He makes appearances at schools, parades and other insects, including the Monarch 800 postcards and letters to Alting. Samudio. “But we’re not where we lution passed last month, the coun- public events, usually as a special guest of a local a new way to harness biology for nonbio- butterfly, as potential state insects Students at the school also worked to want to be. We know it takes time. cil adopted Say’s Firefly as the city electricity provider. (You never know when or logical applications.” over the years, Turpin’s torch for the gather 700 signatures in support. In We were really truly hoping that once insect and urged the Indiana General where Louie will turn up!) Fireflies produce light through a firefly remains steadfast. “My feeling is December, Alting visited the school, these legislators saw the kids, heard Assembly to do the same for the state. chemical reaction between luciferin and its there is just a lot more going for fire- and during an all-school convocation, k Identifying behavior: Always promotes his the kids, listened to the facts they The trio said they hope other cities message, “Play it safe around electricity.” In counterpart, the enzyme luciferase. In Maye’s flies in terms of the range, the number he said he’d support their cause. researched that they were going to and counties will pass similar reso- of people that participate with it in Alting said the kids did their animated appearances, children are enthralled by laboratory, the enzyme is attached to a say ‘yes.’” lutions. They also asked that average his memorable safety jingles and distinctive voice. terms of capturing it and putting it in a homework to show that Indiana is out “It’s part of the process,” said citizens who share a delight for the nanorod’s surface; luciferin, which is added k Variants: Louie has the ability to change jar, just lots of things that to me make of step with most of the country and Emma, “because it doesn’t just come firefly to contact legislators across the later, serves as the fuel. The energy that the light source in his abdomen, sometimes it a better state symbol.” their arguments were hard to resist. to you easily. You have to struggle state to ask them to support the firefly appearing as incandescent, LED or CFL bulbs. is released when the fuel and the enzyme Also, unlike some common insects, “They are tougher than any lobbyist I when you’re working hard for some- in the next General Assembly. interact is transferred to the nanorods, only two other states, Pennsylvania know,” Alting told one reporter. thing. I don’t think it’s something that “It’s going to take many Hoosier k A beneficial beetle: Louie has been a safety causing them to glow. and Tennessee, currently recognize Samudio’s students this year made will get in our way or keep us from voices to take this to the finish line,” spokes bug to generations. And just as Nanorods are microscopic objects made the firefly as its state insect. Both of posters — including one that cleverly going.” said their teacher. catching fireflies has been passed on from those states selected more common replaced the 19 stars on the Indiana one generation to the next, Louie’s lessons of of the same materials used in computer On their way And, as they’ve learned, “Everyone varieties of firefly. flag with fireflies to remind legisla- has a voice,” added Emma. … electricity and electrical safety are passed on to chips, solar panels and LED lights. Maye said, Turpin said over 40 types of fire- tors that a blue-dusky field of golden Some Hoosiers might look at all this the latest generation of youngsters. “It’s conceivable that someday firefly-coated flies have been found in Indiana, but fireflies on a summer night is the state and suggest the General Assembly Richard G. Biever is senior editor of You can learn much more about Louie at nanorods could be inserted into LED-type Say’s Firefly is especially significant to flag come alive. should focus on more serious matters Electric Consumer. To learn more about the www.mooresyndication.com. Louie can also lights that you don’t have to plug in.” the Hoosier state. “This is the only one They created a Facebook page than insects. But that might miss the efforts of the Cumberland students and we have in Indiana that was named and handed out white papers with bigger picture. support them, and find links to more be found on Facebook at his page, Louie the information about fireflies, please go to our Source: Syracuse University by Thomas Say. So that was the con- 24 sound numbered reasons why the It may have started with an insect, Lightning Bug. website: ElectricConsumer.org. nection. If we wanted it to be a state firefly should be the state insect. The or rather, lack of one. But as Alting

18 Electric consumer • June 2016 • ElectricConsumer.org ElectricConsumer.org • June 2016 • Electric consumer 19